Yesterday, after a year-long investigation, the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that they reached a settlement with Comcast Corporation (Comcast) and General Electric Co. (GE)’s subsidiary NBC Universal (NBCU). The settlement permits the parties to proceed with their joint venture, under which Comcast will acquire control of NBC Universal Inc. (NBCU) and all of its assets. See http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/January/11-at-061.html.

The DOJ and five state attorneys general — California, Florida, Missouri, Texas, and Washington — filed a civil antitrust law suit in the U.S. District for the District of Columbia to block the formation of the joint venture, and simultaneously filed a proposed settlement that would resolve the agencies’ concerns.

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